74-Year-Old Hakone Ryokan to Open Hakone's First Savory Crepe Specialty Shop "SUN SAN D PICNIC" in Mid-July 2026

Washintei Hougetsu Co., Ltd. (Location: Motohakone, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative Director: Mikio Sugiyama) will open Hakone's first savory crepe specialty shop, "SUN SAN D PICNIC," on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone in mid-July 2026.

Since its establishment in 1952, Washintei Hougetsu has been rooted in Hakone and Lake Ashi, operating the ryokan (Japanese inn) "Washintei Hougetsu." With the philosophy of "entrusting our guests' travel time and enhancing it beautifully," the company has continued to enrich not only stays at the inn but also the entire experience of spending time in Hakone.

As part of these efforts, "SUN SAN D," a specialty shop for Hakone butter sandwiches, was launched in 2022. It has been developed as a souvenir brand to take home memories of a trip to Hakone, proposing new forms of Hakone-style souvenirs born from the hospitality of the ryokan.

Concept of "SUN SAN D PICNIC" ■■

"A moment to savor with the scenery of your journey.

A bench by the lake, steps in the shade of trees, a promenade where the wind blows.

The scenery of each place becomes a table for a moment.

Stopping by on your journey, savoring, and sharing with someone.

That bite remains in your memory along with the scenery."

About "SUN SAN D PICNIC" ■■

Exterior image illustration of savory crepes, focusing on provided image materials.

◾ A New Hakone Gourmet Experience to Enjoy with the Scenery, Perfect for Exploring Hakone

The stars of "SUN SAN D PICNIC" are savory crepes – "not sweet" crepes that can be enjoyed as a meal, combining ingredients like vegetables, meat, and cheese. We have paid attention to the combination of ingredients, their satisfying texture, and their visual appeal.

As a convenient handheld snack to enjoy on your journey through Hakone, whether visiting Hakone Shrine, strolling along Lake Ashi, or sightseeing around Motohakone Port, we plan to offer savory crepes as our main item, along with sweet crepes and drinks.

We envision the shores of Lake Ashi itself as our seating area, allowing customers to savor the crepes with the surrounding scenery – on benches by the lake, steps in the shade of trees, or along promenades where the wind blows. This is a takeout stand designed not to be completed within the shop, but to be enjoyed by taking it out into the Hakone scenery. The name "PICNIC" embodies the hope that the moments savored with the lakeside scenery will remain as travel memories.

◾ Two Adjacent Brands Connecting Travel Memories

"SUN SAN D PICNIC" will open adjacent to its sister brand, the Hakone butter sandwich specialty shop "SUN SAN D." Following "SUN SAN D," which allows guests to take home memories of their trip as souvenirs, the new shop proposes a takeout experience to enjoy "this very moment" in Hakone. With two adjacent brands, we aim to deliver memorable moments before, after, and during your Hakone trip.

The interior design is based on the concept of a "small shop in the forest" from medieval European fairy tales. Featuring a green color scheme, it incorporates the warmth of wood, the texture of brass, and soft lighting, designed to blend naturally with the Hakone forest and the lakeside scenery of Lake Ashi.

About Hakone Butter Sandwich "SUN SAN D"

"SUN SAN D" is a specialty shop for Hakone butter sandwiches opened by Washintei Hougetsu Co., Ltd. in 2022. It proposes the joy of taking home memories of a Hakone trip as a Hakone-style souvenir born from the ryokan's hospitality.

We value the experience, including not only the ingredients and flavors but also the time of gifting and the lingering impressions of the journey.

From Ryokan Origins to Our Aspirations for Hakone Travel ■■

As a ryokan, we see ourselves as custodians of our guests' travel time, and we have focused not only on stays at the inn but also on the time before and after the journey. From departing home, eating, playing, giving souvenirs to loved ones, to reflecting on the next trip while immersed in the afterglow. We consider all of this to be travel time.

Therefore, we have strived to enrich the time spent in Hakone itself, not just within the inn. Through our two adjacent brands, "SUN SAN D" for taking home travel memories as souvenirs, and "SUN SAN D PICNIC" for savoring the moment with the scenery, we will deliver experiences that make your Hakone trip more enjoyable and memorable.

Hakone, a representative tourist destination in Japan, has been nurtured by its nature, history, culture, hot springs, food, and human activities. As a company that has been rooted in this land for many years, we believe that through the creation of new stores, it is also an important role for us as a local business to protect, cultivate, and pass on the charm of Hakone to the next generation.

Furthermore, the new store will be a place for new challenges for our staff. By creating new culinary experiences within Hakone beyond the confines of a ryokan, we aim to expand opportunities for staff to demonstrate their strengths in their own way and create diverse working styles and career possibilities. Nurturing a place that excites both customers and colleagues is also a significant aspiration we have for this project.

About the Ryokan "Washintei Hougetsu"

"Washintei Hougetsu" is a hot spring ryokan located in Motohakone, Hakone Town. Situated on a hill overlooking Lake Ashi, next to the prominent power spot "Hakone Shrine," it boasts an open-air bath where guests can enjoy bathing all night long, and a modern kaiseki (multi-course) dining experience with a motto of not serving signature dishes.

We take charge of our guests' travel time and strive to make their time in Hakone a memorable one through our hospitality.

Operating Company ■■

Company Name: Washintei Hougetsu Co., Ltd.

Representative: Mikio Sugiyama, Representative Director

Location: 90-42 Motohakone, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, 250-0522

Business Activities: Ryokan operations, Food and beverage services, Confectionery manufacturing

Contact: TEL: 0460-83-7788 FAX: 0460-83-7007

Washintei Hougetsu Website: https://www.hakone-hougetu.com

SUN SAN D Website: https://sunsan-d.com

Store Overview ■■

Store Name: SUN SAN D PICNIC

Business Type: Savory crepe specialty shop

Location: 43-2 Motohakone, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture

Scheduled Opening: Mid-July 2026

Main Products Planned: Savory crepes, sweet crepes, drinks, etc.

Sales Format: Primarily takeout

*Specific opening date, product lineup, prices, business hours, etc., will be announced at a later date.